CANADA’S COSTS FOR WAGING WAR ON LIBYA: HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS WASTED

Dollar figures for the war in Libya will be made public soon, a Canadian Forces general said Wednesday, but the final cost may not be known for months to come.

One military expert says Canadian spending could easily amount to millions of dollars per day.

“I’d be surprised if it was anything less than $100 million (per month),” said retired Col. Michel Drapeau. “It needs to be asked: What are we getting for all that? It’s not an omnipotent pool of resources. Someone’s got to pay for that.”

Canada currently has 11 planes, one frigate and approximately 560 military personnel deployed for the Libyan mission, which began at the end of March.

Since that time, CF-18 fighter jets have conducted some 300 bombing missions to take out targets that NATO says have helped forces loyal to Libyan dictator Moammar Gadhafi attack civilians.

The cost for a mission doesn’t just include munitions, fuel and salaries, Drapeau said.

There are also hidden expenses, he said, such as travel costs to send senior officials to conferences and a payment to Italy for hosting Canadian Forces.